The Arrow needed to get the Princess away from here, he needed to get her to paramedics or at least back to the Queen but she was shaking so much in his arms he couldn't find it in his heart to ask her to walk so without so much as a word, The Arrow hoisted her up into his arms.
Felicity weakly cradled her head in his chest as her body shook uncontrollably Slade was my friend she went through it over and over in her head why would he do this? Because of me? It took her a few seconds to register that The Arrow was talking to her

"I'm taking you to a hospital" he said gently

"No!" she gripped his jacket with terrified fingers that dug into his skin "please take me home!" she begged

"But, Your Highness you need medical attention"

"Please…" Felicity tried to look in to his eyes but her vision was once again blurry with tears and a blackness was threatening to take over "…I want…home" she went limp as the blackness took hold and made her mind go blank with exhaustion and shock

The Arrow looked down at the unconscious woman in his arms, the Princess of Arkham, only looking at her now it was nearly impossible to tell that she was royalty – hair messed up, glasses broken, bruises and cuts from the explosion and a slight burn on her arm – this woman had risked her life to save her people. The Arrow was in awe of her and found himself wanting to protect her even more now.

With a quick call to Diggle, The Arrow made his way back to the palace, placed her on the ground gently and waited for Diggle to take her so he could change "I'll meet you inside" The Arrow took one last look at Felicity and fled the scene.

Queen Donna was near hysterics when she spotted her daughter in the arms of John Diggle and ran over to them along with a number of paramedics and reporters all wanting to get a good shot of the Princess. Donna shooed them away while the paramedics set to work checking her over and noting all of her wounds.
They were joined by Prince Oliver a short time later looking dirty and worried for the Princess "Princess? Felicity, is she alright?" he asked and placed a hand on her cheek

"We need to get her to a hospital right now" a paramedic sent for a stretcher and helped load the Princess in to the ambulance

"Stay man, we need to talk" John placed a hand on Oliver chest when they were taking Felicity away "tell me what happened"

"Slade was there, he planned the whole thing to get to Felicity" Oliver explained as he and Dig walked slowly away from the scene "I fired an arrow at him but I can't be sure that I got him, we need to go back there" Oliver could see the press had sighted him and were rushing over to question him "not now though, we'll talk to my parents about the marriage, see the Princess and then investigate Slade further"
John nodded at the plan and did his best to shield the Prince as the cameras started rolling and flashing.

"Is everyone alright! How bad is the damage!" Felicity sprang up so fast and spoke so loudly that she scared the nurse half to death

"Your Highness! You're awake" the nurse smiled and looked over her medical chart and checked her wounds "are you feeling dizzy at all? Any numbness anywhere?"

"No I'm fine, thank you" Felicity asked to see her mother as soon as possible, the nurse nodded and left briefly to get the Queen and was followed in by her minutes later "Mother! Tell me everyone is alright" she hugged her as bed she could from her bed

"Darling, I think it's best if you worry about it later and rest" Donna soothed her daughter "we have much to talk about and I want to wait until you're better"

"No I want to talk about it now"

Donna looked at her daughter and knew that there was no way she would let it go, the Queen took her daughters hand gently and told her of the damage that the explosion caused, how much it would cost and all the injured and sadly killed. Felicity listened quietly, already making lists and sorting things out in her head and she found that fixing the damage to her kingdom was more than any other catastrophe to fall on Arkham. They just didn't have the money and knowing that sent a chill down her spine.

Donna continued to talk but Felicity wasn't listening right now, she came up with the only solution to their problems and it gave her an odd taste in her mouth "…I'll…I'll marry Prince Oliver" she sighed as she held her mother hand "It's really the best thing for us right now, we need Starling and this alliance will help our kingdom"

"I've already spoken to King Robert and all the details are set" Donna nodded and tried to smile "Sweetie, I know how the Prince looks in the tabloids but you never know, he might turn out to be a fine husband"

Felicity knew right away that her mother didn't know that she had caught Oliver with another woman maybe she doesn't have to know. A scandal like this is the last thing we'll all want she smiled as Donna started going on and on about plans for Felicity's departure for Starling and plans for the wedding "Things were a lot easier when Mr Wilson was here" she sighed

"Has anyone seen him?" Felicity asked quietly trying her best to keep her expression as one of concern "I haven't heard from him since the explosion" and probably never will

"I'm not sure where he is darling but I have every available man out looking for him, we'll find him and bring him home"

Felicity thought back to the night before, finding Slade and his plans to destroy her kingdom just so he could rebuild it into something he wanted – and be with her in the process. Felicity wanted to be queen one day but not if Slade was to be her king.
Instead Oliver was to be her king. Handsome Oliver. Cheating Oliver. How was she meant to make this work when she didn't know if she could forgive him? How could she marry a man who had another woman's legs wrapped around him when they both knew they were to be married in the near future? Felicity hated him and yet when she remembered his eyes when she caught him she felt something inside her stir, the tiniest flutter of emotion.

Felicity pushed it down and pulled her head up high, she would marry Oliver for the sack of her kingdom and that was that. Nothing more.

Movement in the doorway caught Donna's attention and she happily welcomed King Robert and Queen Moira into the hospital room and told them that Felicity had accepted and would marry Oliver. Moira explained that Felicity would journey to Starling in a few days once she was fully recovered and they would start planning the wedding the day after she arrived.

Felicity noticed Oliver standing back in the doorway and he coughed to get everyone's attention, Moira and Donna took the hint and got up to leave them alone for a few minutes. Oliver went to Felicity's bedside and sat down in a chair. They were quiet, not knowing what to say and both remembering last night's events. It was Oliver who spoke first:

"Are you alright, Princess?" Oliver acted concerned

"A few bumps and bruises but I'm alright I guess" Felicity nodded and looked down at her hands

"What were you doing?"

"Helping my people Oliver! I had to do something! And I wasn't the only one who thought the same thing" Felicity said defensively

"What do you mean?" Oliver asked with a confused look on his face and moved his chair closer to the bed

There it was, that feeling she didn't want to feel. Felicity ignored it and pressed on "The Arrow was there and he saved me and now…now my kingdom is burning and I need help" she felt her eyes fill with tears

"Then let me help you" Oliver held her hand gently "I know that…last night I wasn't at my best –" Felicity made a sarcastic 'tsh' sound " –but I will do whatever you need me to do to help you get your kingdom back on track. Please, let me prove myself to you" he looked so sincere as he held her hand tighter

"I know that…doing this…we won't be the perfect husband and wife but…maybe friends?" Felicity shrugged

"I think we can do that" Oliver smiled warmly at the princess, his soon-to-be-wife.

A/N: I know that this wasn't very exciting but it is a little step forward for them. They will be together in Starling and I see things on the horizon – some bad and some good for the couple and for a certain Arrow…